Introduction:

carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning is a frequent acute poisoning in winter months and the main cause of death and neurological sequelae secondary to an inhaled toxin. Clinical presentation can vary from a mild illness to a critical immediate life-threatening situation.

Objectives:

describe the clinical presentation of children and adolescents who were discharged with a diagnosis of CO poisoning assisted in the Emergency Pediatric Ward of the Pereira Rossell Pediatric Hospital (CHPR).

Methodology:

observational, retrospective and descriptive study. It includes patients from 0 to 14 years of age with diagnosis of CO poisoning between April and August 2022.

Results:

15 patients were included. Neurological symptoms were present in 13 cases, 8 severe (seizures, loss of consciousness, coma). The most frequent source of exposure was the gas water heaters.

Discussion:

there was not an immediate recognition of the exposure and probable intoxication in all cases, which resulted in a delay in diagnosis and treatment. Mostly 100% oxygen therapy was started once the diagnosis was suspected or confirmed. Carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) levels did not correlate well with the symptoms, elevated serum lactate values and increased cardiac enzymes were identified in some cases.

Conclusions:

anexocute CO poisoning was manifested by neurological symptoms, with a wide spectrum of clinical presentation, sometimes life-threatening. Gas water heater was the most common source in severe cases. The elevated level of COHb contributed to the diagnosis, although a normal value did not rule it out.

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